Judge: BISD battles are hurting our economy

Updated 6:44 pm, Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Special Assistant for Communications for BISD, Jessie Haynes, sets out produce from the Odom Organics garden before the meeting on Thursday, August 1, 2013.
Photo taken:
Randy Edwards/The Enterprise

Special Assistant for Communications for BISD, Jessie Haynes, sets out produce from the Odom Organics garden before the meeting on Thursday, August 1, 2013.
Photo taken:
Randy Edwards/The Enterprise

Photo: Randy Edwards

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BISD spokesperson, Jessie Haynes talks to media about her controversial book distribution deal during the BISD meeting at the BISD administration building in Beaumont, Thursday. Tammy McKinley/ The Enterprise

BISD spokesperson, Jessie Haynes talks to media about her controversial book distribution deal during the BISD meeting at the BISD administration building in Beaumont, Thursday. Tammy McKinley/ The Enterprise

Photo: TAMMY MCKINLEY

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Jefferson County Judge Jeff Brannick

Jefferson County Judge Jeff Brannick

Photo: File

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BISD Board President Woodrow Reece, left, and Trustee Mike Neil, right, listen as the public comments on BISD during their board meeting on Tuesday, June 18, 2013.
Photo taken:
Randy Edwards/The Enterprise

BISD Board President Woodrow Reece, left, and Trustee Mike Neil, right, listen as the public comments on BISD during their board meeting on Tuesday, June 18, 2013.
Photo taken:
Randy Edwards/The Enterprise

Photo: Randy Edwards

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School Board President Woodrow Reece, left, and board member Mike Neil, right, get into an argument. The Beaumont School Board held a special meeting Friday March 8, 2013 where they were going to discuss the 7/0 redistricting map and possibly amending the election order. They went into Executive Session after discussing and voting on two action items and when they came out, adjourned the meeting. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

School Board President Woodrow Reece, left, and board member Mike Neil, right, get into an argument. The Beaumont School Board held a special meeting Friday March 8, 2013 where they were going to discuss the ... more

Superintendent Timothy Chargois has been in office for almost a year in Beaumont, and Tuesday July 23, 2013, he held a press conference. Chargois and his team were on hand to address overall performance, any myths, any misinformation and all facts surrounding his first school year as the chief executive officer for BISD. He also discussed plans for the 2013-2014 school year, which starts in a few weeks. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

Superintendent Timothy Chargois has been in office for almost a year in Beaumont, and Tuesday July 23, 2013, he held a press conference. Chargois and his team were on hand to address overall performance, any ... more

An expansion project skipped out on locating in Beaumont because of the added income it would need to pay its employees to send their children to private school, said Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick.

More industrial expansion projects are likely on their way with the Panama Canal expansion, increased trade opportunities with Asia and the oil and gas stakes that have already been planted locally, Branick said.

"Things look rosy, but on the other side the acrimony of the school district is having a dampening effect," he said.

The latest incident involving the embattled school board happened Monday when Superintendent Timothy Chargois placed Jessie Haynes, special assistant to the superintendent for communications, on paid administrative leave after an altercation that took place between Haynes and school board member Mike Neil after the Aug. 1 board meeting.

Chargois has ordered an investigation into the incident to be done by an outside firm.

Surveillance video from the Aug. 1 incident released late Monday shows Haynes blocking a set of double doors to prevent Neil and Setinvestigates.com editor Jerry Jordan from entering a press conference with the district's attorney, Melody Chappell. When Neil reached around Haynes to open the door, Haynes bumped Neil with her shoulder, the footage shows. Later, as she walked away from the press conference, Haynes is seen shoving Neil in the arm.

In the aftermath of the Haynes and Neil confrontation, BISD board President Woodrow Reece said he would like to consider closing the public comment portion of board meetings. Another option would be to hold meetings in a separate room from the public while simultaneously broadcasting the proceedings to that room.